Cast protective device

ABSTRACT

A cast protective device for use on a foot portion of a cast to provide protection against dirt, stains, moisture and the like includes an outer sole and an upper portion secured to said sole adjacent the periphery thereof. The upper portion has a large opening for insertion of the foot portion of the cast and a fold with overlying portions in closing about the cast and members securing the upper portions together in said selected adjusted position. A heel portion and an adjacent intermediate portion of a lower surface of the outer sole are shaped with a curvature for a rocking motion to aid in walking and also has a plurality of transverse ribs thereon to cushion impact and to provide skid resistance.

United States Patent Newell [451 Apr. 9, 1974 CAST PROTECTIVE DEVICE[76] Inventor: Arthur E. Newell, 500 Danberry,

Topeka, Kansj 66106 221 Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 233,934

6/I952 Great Britain 128/83.5

Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Fishburn, Gold & Litman 5 7] ABSTRACT A cast protectivedevice for use on a foot portion of a cast to provide protection againstdirt, stains, moisture and the like includes an outer sole and an upperportion secured to said sole adjacent the periphery thereof. The upperportion has a large opening for insertion of the foot portion of thecast and a fold with overlying portions in closing about the cast andmembers securing the upper portions together in said selected adjustedposition. A heel portion and an adjacent intermediate portion of a lowersurface of the outer sole are shaped with a curvature for a rockingmotion to aid in walking and also has a plurality of transverse ribsthereon to cushion impact and to provide skid resistance.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 9 9M ET a or 2 Mu y CASTPROTECTIVE DEVICE The present invention relates to cast protectivedevices for use on a foot portion of the cast and more particularly tosuch a cast protective device having a lower surface extending in acurvature between the heel portion and a toe portion to facilitatewalking with support of body weight.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a devicefor use on a foot portion of a cast and which has a sole with agenerally eliptical bottom convex from toe to heel that provides arolling action for the foot and gives support for the persons bodyweight; to provide such a cast protective device or shoe with a sole andupper thereon adapted for a wide opening for ease of application and aclosing shape to substantially encasing engagement with the cast; toprovide such a protective shoe which is adapted to resist stains,moisture, dirt and the like; to provide such a cast protective devicewhich is adjustable to the size of the cast and which is adapted for useon either a right foot portion or a left foot portion; to provide such acast protective device, having an outer sole and an upper portionsecured on an upper surface thereof with flap sections and means tosecure same together in a selected adjusted overlapped position; toprovide such a cast protective device wherein the outer sole has aplurality of longitudinally spaced ribs on a heel portion and anadjacent intermediate portion of a lower surface thereof to cushionimpact during walking and for skid resistance; to provide such a castprotective device wherein the lower surface of the outer sole has atread on a toe portion thereof and on an adjacent intermediate portionfor traction during walking; to provide such a cast protective devicewherein the outer sole is formed of a long-wearing and shock-absorbingmaterial; and to provide such a cast protective device which iseconomical to manufacture, easily installed on a foot portion of thecast, easily adjusted to a secured porition, durable in use, and whichis particularly well-adapted for the proposeduse.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings whereinare set forth byway of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include anexemplary embodiment illustrating various objects and features of thecast protective device of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cast having mounted thereon a castprotective device or shoe embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cast shoe with the upper inpartially open position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the cast shoe.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the cast shoe and showing a lowersurface of an outer sole.

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged longitudinal sectional view through thecast shoe.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG. 5.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosedherein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis forthe claim and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in theart to variously employ the present invention in virtually anyappropriate detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the referencenumeral 1 generally designates a device for use on a foot portion 2 of acast 3 such as is applied to a foot and leg of a person having a bonefracture or other disabling injury. The cast device 1 includes a sole 4with an upper portion 5 secured thereto adjacent the periphery thereof.In the illustrated structure the upper portion 5 has a pair ofoverlapping sections 7 and 8 adapted to be placed in overlappingrelation in a selected adjusted position closely engaging the cast withmeans 9 securing the sections 7 and 8 together in said adjusted positionto hold the shoe on the cast. A heel portion 10 and an adjacentintermediate portion 11 of a lower surface of the outer sole 4 have acurvature on the bottom to facilitate walking.

The outer sole 4 is engageable with a floor, ground surface, or the likeduring walking and the curved bottom is adapted to effect a rockingaction of the cast 3 and the leg of a person. The illustrated outer sole4 has opposite edge portions 14 and 15 extending laterally ortransversely outwardly from a rocker portion 16 extending longitudinallybetween the heel portion 10 and a toe portion 17 of the outer sole 4.The rocker portion 16 is illustrated as a rib depending from the outersole 4 and having a lower surface defining a curvilinear convex pathbetween the heel portion 10 and the toe portion 17 of the outer sole 4.It is preferable that the curvilinear path be a generally ellipticalform to provide a substantially smooth and gentle rocking action fromthe heel portion 10 to the toe portion 17.

It is desirable to cushion impact on the cast 3, therefore, the rockerportion 16 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverselyextending ribs 12 thereon with the ribs 12 being on the heel portion 10and the adjacent intermediate portion 11. It is also desirable toprovide means on the lower surface of the rocker portion 16 to effecttraction with the floor surface of the like, therefore, a suitable treaddesign 18 is formed in the toe portion 18 and an adjacent intermediateportion 19 of the rocker portion 16.

The outer sole 4 is preferably formed of a material having sufficientrigidity to support the cast 3 and sufficient flexibility to absorbshock and cushion the cast 3 within the cast protective device 1 duringwalking. Therefore, the outer sole 4 is formed of a suitablethermoplastic synthetic resinous material, rubber, or the like. Moldableresins such as urethane polyvinyl chloride and the like have been foundto provide the desired rigidity combined with sufficient flexibility andresilency to support the cast 3 and cushion impact during walking. It ispreferable that such material in the tinished sole have a Shore Adurometer value of sixty to seventy (60 to The upper portion 5 may beany suitable structure for applying and holding the sole 4 to the footof a cast, as for example, straps, a sandal like top or other open typemember for receiving the foot portion of the cast. The upper portion 5may have its lower edges secured to the sole 4 in any suitable mannerand in the illustrated structure the upper portion 5 has lower edgeportions 20 turned in any overlying margins of the upper surface 6adjacent the periphery of the outer sole, said edges and sole beingsecured together as by a suitable preferably waterproof adhesive.

While the edge portions 20 could be exposed, it is preferable to coversame for neatness of appearance. In the illustrated structure an innersole 21 of suitable material such as fabric or plastic is secured to thetop surface 6 of the outer sole 4 with peripheral portion overlying theedge portions 20. The inner sole is preferably secured to said edges 20and top surface 6 by adhesive.

The joint or connection between the upper and the sole 4 is closed andsealed to be waterproof by a suitable band or strap or rubber or thelike which extends circumferentially around adjacent portions the upperportion 5 and the outer sole 4 to cover the joint between the outer sole4 and the upper portion 5. The strap 20 may be integral with the sole 4on a separate piece and secured to the upper 5 and sole 4 by anysuitable manner as by adhesive, vulcanizing or the like to provide awear resistant waterproof structure. The upper portion 5 extends aroundthe foot portion 2 of the cast 3 to enclose same and has the sections 7and 8 adapted to be placed with one section overlapping the other, forexample section 7 overlying-section 8.

It is desirable that the upper portion 5 be formed of a suitableflexible material which is moisture resistant and which will protect thecast 3 therein from dirt, stains, and the like. Canvas preferablytreated to be waterproof has been found to be a suitable material forthe upper portion 5.

The means 9 for securing the sections 7 and 8 in an adjusted overlyingposition are illustrated as including a plurality of spaced straps 22,each having one end thereof secured to one of the sections, for examplesection 8, and extending outwardly therefrom. The straps 22 areillustrated as each having a plurality of spaced apertures 23 therein.The fastening means 9 also includes a plurality of buckles 24 mounted onthe other section 7 of the upper portion 5 with a buckle 24 for eachstrap 22. Each buckle 24 has a tongue 25 adapted to extend through arespective and selected one of the apertures 23 of the respective strap22 thereby securing the section 7 in a selected adjusted positionoverlying the other section 8. This arrangement of the fastening meansis to place them near a midline position so as not to contact the otherfoot of the user when walking.

Using a cast protective device or shoe constructed as illustrated anddescribed is extremely simple and includes moving the sections 7 and 8thereby positioning same to define a wide opening to receive the footportion 2 of the cast 3 and placing the foot portion 2 of the cast 3within the upper portion 5 of the cast protective device 1 and movingthe section 7 over the section 8 and positioning the straps 22 withinthe buckles 24 in a selected position to secure the sections 7 and 8 inthe selected overlying position. Removal of the cast protective device 1from the foot portion 2 of the cast 3 is also 4 extremely simple,requiring only disconnecting the straps 22 from the buckles 24. The ribs12 cushion impact on the cast 3 during walking and the tread 18 alsoprovides some cushioning action and provides traction for the lowersurface of the rocker portion 16.

Walking with the cast protective device or shoe 1 is accomplished byplacing the heel portion 10 in engagement with the floor or othersurface and rocking the cast 3 to move the sole 4 toward the toe portion17 as the weight of the person having the cast 3 on one leg is movedforward. The rocking movement is closely similar to the natural movementof a person during walking and is much smoother than walking with a casthaving an extension or buffer thereon and places less strain on theperson having the cast 3 on one leg thereof.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A protectivedevice for the lower portion of a foot and leg cast comprising:

a. a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion in spaced relation anda rib extending therebetween and connecting said toe and heel portions,said sole having intermediate portions extending laterally outwardly ofsaid rib; said toe, heel, rib and intermediate portions of said solehaving a generally planar upper surface of a length and width greaterthan the ground engaging portion of said rib, said rib being independing relation to said intermediate sole portions;

b. said toe, heel and rib portions having lower surfaces cooperating todefine a continuous curvilinear generally elliptical shape extending forsubstantially the length of the sole with said rib being a rockerportion between said toe and heel portions;

0. an upper portion having lower edge portions thereof secured to saidsole adjacent the periphery thereof, said upper portion and soleenclosing the foot portion of a cast;

d. sections of said upper portion being adapted to be moved to aposition defining an opening of a size to receive the foot portion of acast and to be placed with one section overlying an other to adjust theshape of said upper portion to enclose and substantially fit a footportion of a case therein;

e. means on said sections for securing same in a respective one of aplurality of adjusted overlying positions;

f. a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs inthe lower surface of said heel portion of said sole;

g. a tread on the lower surface of said toe portion of thesole.

1. A protective device for the lower portion of a foot and leg castcomprising: a. a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion in spacedrelation and a rib extending therebetween and connecting said toe andheel portions, said sole having intermediate portions extendinglaterally outwardly of said rib; said toe, heel, rib and intermediateportions of said sole having a generally planar upper surface of alength and width greater than the ground engaging portion of said rib,said rib being in depending relation to said intermediate sole portions;b. said toe, heel and rib portions having lower surfaces cooperating todefine a continuous curvilinear generally elliptical shape extending forsubstantially the length of the sole with said rib being a rockerportion between said toe and heel portions; c. an upper portion havinglower edge portions thereof secured to said sole adjacent the peripherythereof, said upper portion and sole enclosing the foot portion of acast; d. sections of said upper portion being adapted to be moved to aposition defining an opening of a size to receive the foot portion of acast and to be placed with one section overlying an other to adjust theshape of said upper portion to enclose and substantially fit a footportion of a case therein; e. means on said sections for securing samein a respective one of a plurality of adjusted overlying positions; f. aplurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs in thelower surface of said heel portion of said sole; g. a tread on the lowersurface of said toe portion of the sole.